Tiltable floor-profile arrangement

ABSTRACT

The arrangements relates to a floor-profile arrangement for bridging a gap between adjacent floor coverings, having a base profile and a covering profile, and having an intermediate profile, which can be tilted in relation to the base profile and has a first fastening portion, for fastening on the covering profile, and a second fastening portion, for fastening on the base profile, wherein at least one transversally extending wing is formed on the intermediate profile, between the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion.

The invention relates to a tiltable floor-profile arrangement for bridging a gap between adjacent floor coverings which can have different heights, wherein the floor-profile arrangement has a base profile and a covering profile, which are connected to one another by means of an intermediate profile. For this purpose, the intermediate profile has a first fastening portion, for fastening on the covering profile, and a second fastening portion, for fastening on the base profile.

The covering profile fastened on the intermediate profile is formed so that it can be tilted in relation to the base profile in order to compensate for differences in the heights of the floor coverings.

Such tiltable floor-profile arrangements are known from the prior art. For example, EP 1 682 735 B1 discloses a floor-profile arrangement, wherein a joint arrangement is provided between the intermediate profile and the base profile, in order to configure the covering profile so that it can be tilted in relation to the base profile.

DE 201 18 942 U1 discloses a two-part lower profile with joint function for bolted floor profiles, wherein an intermediate profile is inserted in the base profile, and a covering profile is screwed into the intermediate profile.

EP 1 020 590 A2 discloses a floor-profile arrangement having a base profile, an intermediate profile and a covering profile, wherein the intermediate profile is fastened on the base profile by means of a catch mechanism and on the covering profile by means of a gripping system. Tiltability is achieved by inserting the intermediate profile more deeply into the base profile on the one side.

The floor profile according to EP 1 682 735 B1 has proven itself in practice. Nonetheless, the construction can be further improved, in order to be able to install the floor-profile arrangement more easily and provide a simplified solution when little tiltability is needed.

This problem is solved by a combination of features according to claim 1. Here it is provided to form, on the intermediate profile, between the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion, at least one wing extending in a transverse direction (TD).

According to the invention, a “wing” is defined as any extension projecting in a transverse direction that is suitable for achieving the features of the wing according to the invention. The wing is an added element/component in addition to the fastening portions of the intermediate profile that also extend in a transverse direction.

By providing the wing on the intermediate profile, the problems according to the invention are solved in that the intermediate profile can be fastened in the base profile during the installation of the floor-profile arrangement, without being able to tilt excessively far in one sideways direction or the other. By means of the wing of the intermediate profile, a supporting on the upper bearing surface of the base profile occurs immediately or starting at a small tilt angle, so that the covering profile can be attached during the installation on a substantially vertical or upright intermediate profile.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one wing forms one piece with the intermediate profile. As material for the intermediate profile, it is preferable to use plastic, so that the wing can be connected in one piece to the intermediate profile.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the at least one wing is elastically bendable in the vertical direction (VD), wherein the vertical direction is defined as the direction that extends perpendicularly from the base profile in the direction of the covering profile. The elastic bendability of the wing is advantageous in order not to rigidly limit the tiltability of the intermediate profile relative to the base profile, and so that it can instead be predefined by the elasticity of the material of the intermediate profile. Here it is advantageous for the first fastening portion to have, on a side facing the wing, a recess into which the wing can be pushed elastically. In the case of a tilting of the intermediate profile relative to the base profile, a force acts on the wing in the vertical direction, pushing it into the recess of the intermediate profile. In order to ensure a largest possible tilting range, the recess is at least sufficiently large in the vertical direction (vertical height) to receive at least the marginal area of the wing completely therein.

In order to ensure that the covering profile with the first fastening portion of the intermediate profile can be tilted sufficiently relative to the base profile, it is preferable to provide that the first fastening portion extends in a transverse direction over and past the at least one wing and has a portion extending in the vertical direction toward the wing and forming the recess for the at least one wing. As a result of the use of the recess, the material of the wing does not limit the tilting of the intermediate profile or limits it only slightly.

Furthermore, it is provided that the at least one wing is at a spacing distance in the vertical direction with respect to the first fastening portion and/or the second fastening portion. In particular, the spacing distance of the wing with respect to the second fastening portion ensures a movable fastening of the intermediate profile on the base profile. As a result of the spacing distance of the wing with respect to the bearing surface of the base profile, a larger tilt angle can be achieved than if the wing is formed so that it is immediately adjacent in the vertical direction to the second fastening portion. However, the spacing distance between the bearing surface of the base profile and the facing surface of the at least one wing is so small that the tiltability of the intermediate profile relative to the base profile, which is ensured during the installation, is so small that the wing always holds the intermediate profile in a substantially upright position, in order to allow the installation of the covering profile on an upright intermediate profile. The subsequent tilting is then ensured by the elastic bendability of the wing into the recess of the first fastening portion of the intermediate profile. The spacing distance of the wing with respect to the first fastening portion is also used in order to allow a greater tilt angle.

The wing according to the invention is not limited in its extent in the longitudinal direction (LD); instead, it can extend over the entire length of the intermediate profile, be arranged intermittently, or be provided at only one site.

The wing according to the invention, furthermore, forms a stop limiting the tilting movement, when its bottom side comes to bear against the bearing surface of the base profile.

Furthermore it is preferable to provide, on the floor-profile arrangement, a joint arrangement which is formed by a joint socket and a joint body engaging in the joint socket and which is formed on the base profile and the intermediate profile. Here it does not matter whether the joint body is formed on the base profile and the joint socket on the intermediate profile, or the joint body is formed on the intermediate profile and the joint socket on the base profile. However, it is preferable to form the joint arrangement as a dovetail arrangement, so that a tilting of the intermediate profile with the covering profile attached thereto relative to the base profile is ensured both by the joint arrangement and also by the wing formed on the intermediate profile. The two constructions of the joint arrangement and of the wing on the intermediate profile interact during the tilting of the covering profile with the intermediate profile in that, on the one hand, the tilting is achieved and, on the other hand, the tilt angle can be established and limited to predetermined values.

In an arrangement of the intermediate profile on the base profile without joint arrangement, the tiltability is provided exclusively by means of the elastic bendability of the wing. Although this tiltability is simpler in terms of its construction and thus more cost effective, it is limited with regard to the tilt angle.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the wing has at least one vertical support on its side facing the base profile, support which is preferably arranged or formed in the marginal area. In the preferred embodiment, the support forms one piece with the wing, but it can also be attached or fastened thereto. By means of the support, a vertical upright position of the intermediate profile on the base profile without tilting is ensured, as long as no external forces, in addition to the force of gravity, act on the intermediate profile. At the same time, by means of the elastic bendability of the wing, a pressing into the recess of the upper fastening portion and thus a tiltability are ensured.

It is preferable to provide for the covering profile to be fastened detachably on the intermediate profile and for the intermediate profile to be received detachably on the base profile. For the fastening between the covering profile and the intermediate profile, it is preferable to provide a mutually engaging catch mechanism, so that the covering profile can be immobilized at any desired height depending on the locking teeth.

Furthermore, it is advantageous in the floor-profile arrangement according to the invention for the first fastening portion of the intermediate profile to extend in a transverse direction over and past the base profile, in order to ensure a spacing distance in a transverse direction between the margin of the base profile and the projections of the covering profile extending in the vertical direction for each insertion depth of the covering profile on the intermediate profile.

It is also advantageous for the inner spacing distance between the projections of the covering profile to be greater than the width of the base profile, so that the projections, in the maximum tilt position, abut against the lateral outer face of the base profile and thus limit the tilt angle.

Other advantageous variants of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims and further presented below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in reference to the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the floor-profile arrangement,

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the floor-profile arrangement,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the floor-profile arrangement of the figure in a tilted position, and

FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment in a side view.

Identical reference numerals denote identical components in all the embodiments. To the extent that components or features are described in only one embodiment example but marked with the same reference numerals, their properties and features also apply to the remaining embodiment examples, without being explicitly repeated.

In FIG. 1, as an example, a diagrammatic side view of the floor-profile arrangement 1 with a base profile 2, a covering profile 3 and an intermediate profile 4 is shown. The intermediate profile 4 is received in the base profile 2 by means of a joint arrangement 9 made up of a joint body 11 on the intermediate profile 4 and a joint socket 10. The joint arrangement 9 is a dovetail joint in the depicted embodiment. The covering profile 3 is fastened by projections 8 to the first fastening portion 5 of the intermediate profile 4 by means of a catch mechanism. By means of the catch mechanism, the covering profile 3 can be locked in any height positions on the first fastening portion 5 of the intermediate profile 4. On the intermediate profile 4, between the first fastening portion 5 and the second fastening portion 6, by means of which the intermediate profile 4 is fastened to the base profile 2, a wing 7 extending in a transverse direction forms one piece with the intermediate profile 4. The wing 7 extends in a transverse direction over a predetermined distance; however, it is spaced from the margin of the base profile 2. On a side facing the wing 7, the first fastening portion 5 of the intermediate profile 4 has a recess 12 into which the wing 7 can be pressed elastically in a tilt position of the covering profile 3 with the intermediate profile 4. This is represented in further detail in FIG. 3. The recess 12 is moreover formed in that the first fastening portion 5 of the intermediate profile 4 extends over and past the wing 7 in a transverse direction and forms the recess 12 on a side facing the wing 7, recess into which the wing 7 can be pressed. The recess 12 is sufficiently large so that the bottom side of the wing 7 forms a flush connection with the lower edge of the upper fastening portion 5 in the marginal area thereof.

The intermediate profile 4 is formed so that the wing 7, in the unstressed state, is at a spacing distance with respect to both the first fastening portion 5 and also the second fastening portion 6, in order to provide in each case space in the vertical direction for the elastic bendability. At the time of the installation of the floor-profile arrangement 1, the base profile 2 with the intermediate profile 4 arranged thereon is placed in the gap between the adjacent floor coverings and then the covering profile is attached. For this purpose, the wing 7 ensures that the intermediate profile 4 remains substantially in a vertical position, even when tiltability is ensured by the joint arrangement 6. The installation is thus simplified considerably.

In FIG. 2, as an example, an embodiment example of the invention is represented diagrammatically, in which the wing 7 lies directly on the bearing surface 19 of the base profile 2. The tilting of the covering profile 3 with the intermediate profile 4 occurs exclusively via the elasticity of the wing 7 into the recess 12. The lower fastening portion 6 of the intermediate profile 4 is firmly connected to the base profile 2, without any additional tilt being provided. This embodiment is more cost effective and it can be used when only small tilt angles are needed.

In FIG. 3, the floor-profile arrangement 1 of FIG. 1 is represented in a tilted position. The wing 7 forms with the bearing surface 19 of the base profile 2 a stop that limits the tilting movement as soon as the wing 7 is completely pressed into the recess 12 of the first fastening portion 5. The covering profile 3 in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 is pressed in the vertical direction far over and past the intermediate profile 4, so that the projections 8 extend almost completely over the first fastening portion 5 of the intermediate profile 4. The inner portion of the projection 8 of the covering profile 3, which extends in the vertical direction, is greater than the width of the base profile 2, so that, in the case of an installation position wherein the covering profile 3 is pushed in far, the projections 8 abut in the maximum tilt position against the outer face of the base profile 2 and limit further tilting, in addition to the limitation caused by the wing 7. The wing 7 produces its limiting action in any height position of the covering profile 3. The projections 8 of the covering profile 3, in contrast, act together with the base profile 2 in a limiting manner only if the covering profile 3 is moved almost completely over the intermediate profile 4. In this manner, it is ensured that, in each installation height of the covering portion 3, a limitation of the tilting is provided. The joint body 11 of the joint arrangement 9 is held in the maximum tilt position within the joint socket 10. An additional increase in the tilt angle could lead to the joint body 11 popping out of the joint socket 10. This is prevented by the abutment of the wing 7 and of the projections 8 against the base profile 2.

In FIG. 4, an additional embodiment of the invention is represented diagrammatically, wherein the wing 7, on its side facing the base profile 2, has on both sides a vertical support 13. The support 13, in the marginal area, forms one piece with the wing 7. By means of the support 13, a vertical upright position of the intermediate profile 4 on the base profile 2 is ensured for the installation of the covering profile 3. Furthermore, during a tilting movement of the covering profile 3, the wing 7 can be pressed elastically with the first fastening portion 5 of the intermediate profile 4 into the recess 12, in order to ensure predetermined tilt angles.

In the embodiments according to the invention, the components are in each case fastened detachably to one another, so that a screw connection is dispensed with. Only the base profile 2 is screwed to the floor.

The embodiment of the invention is not limited to the above indicated preferred embodiment examples. Instead, many variants are conceivable, which use the represented solution, even in embodiments of fundamentally different type. For example, instead of a dovetail joint arrangement, a ball joint can be used. Each feature shown and/or described in one embodiment example can also be integrated in the other embodiment example, to the extent that this is possible. For example, an embodiment without joint arrangement 9 according to FIG. 2 can be provided with supports 13 according to FIG. 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1: Floor-profile arrangement

2: Base profile

3: Covering profile

4: Intermediate profile

5: First fastening portion

6: Second fastening portion

7: Wing

8: Projections

9: Joint arrangement

10: Joint socket

11: Joint body

12: Recess

13: Support

19: Bearing surface 

1. A floor-profile arrangement for bridging a gap between adjacent floor coverings, having a base profile and a covering profile, an intermediate profile which can be tilted in relation to the base profile and which has a first fastening portion, for fastening on the covering profile, and a second fastening portion, for fastening on the base profile, wherein at least one transversely extending wing is formed on the intermediate profile, between the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion.
 2. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wing forms one piece with the intermediate profile.
 3. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wing is elastically bendable in the vertical direction.
 4. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first fastening portion has, on a side facing the wing, a recess into which the at least one wing can be pressed elastically.
 5. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the first fastening portion extends in a transverse direction over and past the at least one wing and has a portion extending in the vertical direction toward the wing and forming the recess.
 6. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, whererin the at least one wing is at a spacing distance in the vertical direction with respect to the first fastening portion and/or the second fastening portion.
 7. The floor-profile arrangement according claim 1, wherein the wing is formed in the longitudinal direction over the entire length of the intermediate profile or intermittently thereon.
 8. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate profile can be tilted with the covering profile relative to the base profile and the at least one wing forms a stop with a bearing surface of the base profile, which limits the tilting motion.
 9. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a joint arrangement, which is formed by a joint socket and a joint body engaging in the joint socket and which is formed on the base profile and the intermediate profile.
 10. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, whererin the covering profile is fastened detachably on the intermediate profile, and the intermediate profile is received detachably on the base profile.
 11. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment portion of the intermediate profile extends in a transverse direction over and past the base profile.
 12. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the covering profile has two projections extending in the vertical direction and having an inner spacing distance that is greater than the width of the base profile.
 13. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the projections work together with the base profile in order to limit a tilting movement of the intermediate profile with the covering profile fastened thereto.
 14. The floor-profile arrangement according to claim 1, whererin the at least one wing has, on the side facing the base profile, at least one vertical support. 